24 Oct 2012 On The Radar: Supreme Court Set to Resolve Circuit Split as to Definition of Supervisor Under Title VII
Employment Discrimination | BT CurrentsThe Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to review a Seventh Circuit decision involving the definition of a “supervisor” under Title VII. The case, Vance v. Ball State University, could have significant employment law ramifications because “supervisors” automatically subject an employer to vicarious liability for its supervisors’ harassing conduct. Currently, the Seventh Circuit requires that employees have the authority “to hire, fire, demote, promote, transfer, or discipline an employee” to be considered a supervisor. This bright-line, narrow definition ensures that alleged supervisors have…